The portrait of the Matyunins has long been considered a portrait of an unknown family. Researchers knew that it was painted by an artist Ekaterina Khilkova in the 1860s, but the identity of the people in the painting remained a mystery. In 1984, the museum was visited by Vera Elmanovich, a descendant of the Kazan noblemen Molostvovs. She claimed that one of the women in the portrait was her grandmother.

In this portrait, Nadezhda Molostvova is portrayed shortly before her marriage when she still had her maiden name — Matyunina. She is on the left side of the picture in a light dress with a blue bow. Next to Nadezhda are her sister Olga and her mother Elena Sergeyevna. They were hereditary noblewomen from Tsarskoye Selo. From there, the Matyunin family moved to St. Petersburg, where the head of the family, Andrei Matyunin, worked as senator and chief prosecutor.

Khilkova portrayed Elena Sergeyevna and her daughters in keeping with the academic traditions. She pictured them in a harmonic and balanced composition. Without being burdened with too much detail, the painting is enlivened by a few vivid images such as an album in the mother’s hands, the girls’ accessories, and a scenic tree in the background. The use of light and shadow helps to create volume through impeccable smooth transitions. With special attention paid to the fabrics, Ekaterina Khilkova masterfully depicted layered dresses with translucent sleeves, shiny satin ribbons and weightless lace.

The artist managed to capture the character of her models as well. She succeeded in rendering their elegance, airiness and that special affection of family ties. The painting was in the possession of Nadezhda, who moved to Kazan after the wedding. Apparently, she took it with her to remember her cherished mother and sister.

In the 19th century, there were not many women artists in Russia. Russian women started to receive formal art education only in the late 1830s, when drawing classes for girls were established at the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. Ekaterina Khilkova audited classes at the drawing school in Saint Petersburg in the 1850s. In 1862–1868, she held a teaching position there. She received a silver medal for her 1855 painting ‘Female Classes of Drawings in Petersburg Drawing School’ while still a student.

There is little information about Khilkova’s life. It is known that she was born in Tambov and exhibited a few of her paintings. After 1876, any press mentions of her stopped altogether. Researchers could not find any information about how and when she passed away and how many paintings she created. But one thing can be said for sure: she was a great portraitist.